66. To … (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of –ing) ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

                                                              ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

66. To … (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of –ing)

A	Afraid to (do) and afraid of (do)ing I am afraid to do something= I don't want to do it because it is dangerous or the result could be bad. We use afraid to do for things we do intentionally; we can choose to do them or not: ·         This part of town is dangerous. People are afraid to walk here at night. (=they don't want to walk here because it is dangerous- so they don't) ·         James was afraid to tell his parents what had happened. (=he didn't want to tell them because he knew they would be angry or worried) I am afraid of something happening= it is possible that something bad will happen (for example, an accident). We do not use afraid of -ing for things we do intentionally: ·         The path was icy, so we walked very carefully. We were afraid of falling. (=it was possible that we would fall- not we were afraid to fall) ·         I don't like dogs. I'm always afraid of being bitten. (not afraid to be bitten) So, you are afraid to do something because you are afraid of something happening as a result: I was afraid to go near the dog because I was afraid of being bitten.
B	Interested in (do)ing and interested to (do) I'm interested in doing something= I'm thinking of doing it, I would like to do it: ·         Let me know if you're interested in joining the club. (not to join) ·         I tried to sell my car, but nobody was interested in buying it. (not to buy) We use interested to ... to say how somebody reacts to what they hear/see/read/learn/ know/find. For example, 'I was interested to hear it' = I heard it and it was interesting for me: ·         I was interested to hear that Tanya left her job. ·         Ask Mike for his opinion. I would be interested to know what he thinks. (=it would be interesting for me to know it) This structure is the same as surprised to ... /glad to ... etc. (see Unit 65C): ·         I was surprised to hear that Tanya left her job.
C	Sorry to (do) and sorry for/about (do)ing We use sorry to ... to say we regret something that happens (see Unit 65C): ·         I was sorry to hear that Nicky lost her job. (= I was sorry when I heard that ...) ·         I've enjoyed my stay here. I'll be sorry to leave. We also say sorry to ... to apologise at the time we do something: ·         I'm sorry to phone you so late, but I need to ask you something. You can use sorry for or sorry about (doing something) to apologise for something you did before: ·         I'm sorry for (or about) shouting at you yesterday. (not sorry to shout) You can also say: ·         I'm sorry I shouted at you yesterday.
D	We say: I want to (do) /I'd like to (do) I failed to (do) I allowed them to (do) but but but I'm thinking of (do)ing /I dream of (do)ing I succeeded in (do)ing I prevented them from (do)ing I stopped them from (do)ing

EXERCISES

66.1	Use the words in brackets to write sentences. Use afraid to ... or afraid of -ing. 1 The streets are unsafe at night. (a lot of people /afraid /go /out). ____A lot of people are afraid to go out. _______________ 2 We walked very carefully along the icy path. (we /afraid /fall) _____We were afraid of falling._____________________ 3 I don't usually carry my passport with me. (I /afraid /lose /it) ____________________________________________ 4 I thought she would be angry if I told her what had happened. (I /afraid /tell /her) ____________________________________________ 5 We rushed to the station. (we /afraid /miss /our train) ____________________________________________ 6 In the middle of the film there was an especially horrifying scene. (we /afraid /look) ____________________________________________ 7 The vase was very valuable, so I held it carefully. (I /afraid /drop /it) ____________________________________________ 8 I thought the food on my plate didn't look fresh. a (I /afraid /eat /it) ____________________________________________ b (I /afraid /get /sick) ____________________________________________
66.2	Complete the sentences using in ... or to .... Use these verbs: buy look read get know start 1 I'm trying to sell my car, but nobody is interested ___in buying____ it. 2 Julia is interested _____________ her own business. 3 I was interested _____________ your article in the newspaper last week. lt was very well written. 4 Ben wants to stay single. He's not interested _____________ married. 5 I heard from Mark recently. You'll be interested _____________ that he's now working in Paris. 6 I don't enjoy sightseeing. I'm not interested _____________ at old buildings.
66.3	Complete each sentence using sorry for/about ... or sorry to .... Use the verb in brackets. 1 I'm ____sorry to phone _____ you so late, but I need to ask you something. (phone) 2 I was ______________ that you didn't get the job you applied for. (hear) 3 I'm ______________ all those bad things about you. I didn't mean them. (say) 4 I'm ______________ you, but do you have a pen I could borrow? (disturb) 5 I'm ______________ the book you lent me. I'll buy you another one. (lose)
66.4	Complete each sentence using the verb in brackets. 1 a.        We wanted ____to leave _____ the building. (leave) b.       We weren't allowed _____________the building. (leave) c.        We were prevented _____________the building. (leave) 2 a.        Peter failed _____________the problem. (solve) b.       Chris succeeded _____________the problem. (solve) 3 a.        I'm thinking _____________away next week. (go) b.       I'm hoping _____________away next week. (go) c.        I'd like _____________away next week. (go) d.       I'm looking forward _____________away next week. (go) 4 a.        Helen wanted _____________me lunch. (buy) b.       Helen insisted _____________me lunch. (buy) c.        Helen promised _____________me lunch. (buy) d.       Helen wouldn't dream _____________me lunch. (buy)

ANSWER KEY